9.

CHASE.

The wedding had been chaotic, as chaotic as my whole day had been since I woke up. I had Zara’s pendant in my right pants pocket. I was still trying to contemplate what had happened and what I had even gotten myself into, but my mind couldn’t wrap around the fact that the gorgeous woman I’d yearned for was seated beside me on my private jet.

As my wife. My queen. My mate.

We had left the wedding and gotten to the airport hangar where my private jet was waiting, and now we were on our way back to Betnerd, the kingdom I’d inherited from my mother’s side.

“It’s beautiful,” Zara said, dragging my attention back to reality. She was looking out of the window at the forests and landscapes the jet zoomed past.

“It is,” I agreed, my eyes on her, taking her all in.

She sighed and turned to look at me, and I tore my gaze away.

“How are you…a king too?” She asked, and I knew she was trying to find a footing to discuss what really mattered.

“Clinton and I do not share the same mother. My mother was the queen in Betnerd when she married my father, and she didn't give up her crown, neither did she agree to merge the kingdoms. When they separated a few years after I was born, I spent most of my time with her and a few here in Zakori. I took over when she died. As the only heir.”

“I see,” she nodded. “That made a lot more sense now.” More silence. “So now we’re out of Zakori, and we really need to talk,” she finally broke it.

I nodded. “Yes, we do need to talk.”

She swallowed and started. “I know you did this out of pity—“

“Not out of pity,” I cut her short. “Well, not entirely,” I added.

“Then why?” Her big brown eyes were on mine, urging me to say something.

Fuck me, Lumus!

She was absolutely breathtaking, and it was taking everything in me not to pull her to me and kiss her senseless. It was taking everything in me not to tell her she was my mate. Asher had always been such a child; he couldn’t even handle a woman like her if he needed to.

“Because I’m partly to be blamed and also a bit out of pity.”

She placed her head in her hand and groaned. “This was not how I expected my wedding day to go at all. I have no idea what happened.”

“Yeah, I understand.”

“So what happens now? I mean, you’re basically a god in your kingdom, and going back there with a new bride who has been branded a bond betrayer on her wrist isn’t really a wise political choice,” she retorted.

“I would say it’s not the best political choice I’ve made,” I mused.

“I’m extremely thankful for you helping me save face, and as soon as we land in your kingdom, I’ll find my way,” Zara let out.

‘No, no, no! We can’t let her go just like that. We need her!’ Drew practically screamed.

“Will you be able to survive out on your own in a new kingdom?”

Zara thought about it for a couple of seconds. “I could wait tables and carry out other menial jobs until I found my footing.”

I reached for her wrist and lifted it, my hand wrapping around her delicate wrist. “What about this?”

We both looked at the brand on her wrist, dark and bright. A Lycan devouring another lycan under the red light of a moon eclipse. It could be identified from a mile away.

“I could always wear long-sleeved clothes or lots of bracelets or…” she trailed off, knowing that whatever she was saying wouldn’t cut it.

“It’s dangerous, Zara.” Her name rolled off my tongue like butter. “And you can’t give up on the search to find out what happened to you.”

She groaned. “Oh, yeah. That too. But being branded and subtly banished isn’t really the right motivator right now.”

“Well, I have a common ground for the both of us. We both want to uncover the truth of what happened that night, don't we?”

Zara's eyes widened in surprise, a glimmer of hope flickering to life within them. “I suppose we do. I know I do.”

“I have the power and connections to uncover whatever happened that night, and if you need revenge, then I’ll help you,” I said to her.

She shook her head, confused. “I’m sorry, but this is too good to be true. Why are you helping me again?”

My mind went blank because the major reason I was helping her was because I knew that this beautiful Lycan next to me was my mate, and I couldn’t possibly let her go.

I’d already given up hope of ever finding my mate, but what I currently felt for her was something nothing could ever describe. Not words. Not actions. Nothing but the loud thumping in my chest and the buzzing in my ears. I bet some would argue that I am too old for her. If she was with Asher, then she’s probably the same age as him or a few months older. I am turning 38 years old in two months, which makes us at least, just shy of a 12 years difference.

Not that the mate bond ever cared about the age difference. Neither do I. I plan to make her mine wholly. Whatever it takes.

‘Three months,’ Drew started, ‘we just need three months with her by our side before she finally feels the bond.’

“Because I need to know what happened too. You’re going to stay married to me for just three months, and if we haven’t found out who did it, then you can go about washing dishes and waiting tables.”

I stretched my hand towards her. “Deal?”

She observed my hand in front of hers and then stretched hers to mine. “Deal.”

We shook on it, and she settled into her seat with a sigh.

I quickly composed a message to my Alpha beta and Alpha delta, my fingers dancing across the screen as I typed out the urgent announcement.

C- ‘Preparing to bring home our new queen. Ensure everything is ready for her arrival.’

I sent off the message, eager to introduce Zara to the pack. Almost immediately, my phone buzzed with a response from Shane, a string of questions and inquiries about the text I’d just sent.

C- ‘No need for questions and no time to explain. Just be ready.’

I commanded and tucked my phone away. I couldn’t help but steal one last glance at Zara, her head nestled against my shoulder as she dozed off peacefully.

‘She’s so beautiful, and she’s ours.’ Drew growled in a somewhat feral manner.

I’d never felt like this for anyone before, and now I had this animalistic need to protect a woman I barely knew. Gently, I adjusted my position, careful not to disturb her, as I settled back into my seat.

With her sleeping soundly beside me, I felt very protective over her. A soft smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I watched her sleep, her peaceful expression filling me with warmth.